The Reading / Listening - Level 6

A heated debate is currently going on in the USA about whether it is OK for white people to have dreadlocks. The controversy follows a video going viral of a black female student confronting a white male student over the fact that he had dreadlocks. The video shows the black female student questioning the white guy about his locks. She tells him that he cannot sport such a hairstyle because it is part of her culture. He replied that people in ancient Egypt had the same hairstyle and that it did not belong to just one culture. San Francisco State University said: "We are taking the matter seriously and will promptly and thoroughly investigate this incident through applicable university channels."

Dreadlocks are rope-like bunches of hair that is woven together. They have been in existence for thousands of years. Historians are not sure exactly where they first originated. Anthropologists have found evidence of the hairstyle in ancient Egypt, Europe, the Pacific islands, Australia and Papua New Guinea, as well as among many African peoples. Writer Jamia Wilson suggested there was an issue with white people wearing dreadlocks. She said black people often have negative experiences in society because of them and questioned whether white people with dreadlocks go through the same thing. She said: "Hairstyles are not innocuous. There are gendered and racial connotations and stereotypes attached to them."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Level 4  or  Level 5

Sources
  • http://www.independent.co.uk/student/news/dreadlocks-cultural-appropriation-row-intensifies-as-students-come-forward-to-provide-more-context-a6963251.html
  • http://edition.cnn.com/2016/03/31/living/white-dreadlocks-cultural-appropriation-feat/index.html
  • https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/03/31/can-a-white-guy-have-dreadlocks-this-puzzling-viral-video-wades-into-the-politics-of-black-hair/


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

The 40 Lesson Activities on the PDF Handout

WARM-UPS

1. DREADLOCKS: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about dreadlocks. Change partners often and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?

 

debate / dreadlocks / controversy / viral / hairstyle / ancient Egypt / seriously / existence / historians / hairstyle / negative experiences / innocuous / stereotypes

Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.

3. HAIR: How important are these things? Complete this table and share what you wrote with your partner(s). Change partners often.

 

How important?

How does this apply to you?

Style

 

 

Colour

 

 

Amount

 

 

Length

 

 

Condition

 

 

Greasiness

 

 

4. HAIRSTLES: Students A strongly believe hairstyles belong to a culture; Students B strongly believe they don't.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

5. STYLE: Rank these hairstyles with your partner. Put the best at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • dreadlocks

  • close crop

  • bob

  • ponytail

  • braids

  • bald / shaven

  • straight

  • shaggy

6. VIRAL: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "viral". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if  a-h  below are true (T) or false (F).

a.

An argument over dreadlocks is taking place in the USA.

T / F

b.

A black male student criticized a white student for having dreadlocks.

T / F

c.

The white student said dreadlocks belonged to many cultures.

T / F

d.

The students' university said it would not investigate this incident.

T / F

e.

Dreadlocks originated about 50 years ago.

T / F

f.

Anthropologists do not know where dreadlocks first originated.

T / F

g.

A writer wondered if white people with dreadlocks had problems in life.

T / F

h.

The writer said hairstyles were completely innocuous.

T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

1.

heated

a.

wear

2.

controversy

b.

precisely

3.

sport

c.

relevant

4.

promptly

d.

entwined

5.

applicable

e.

experience

6.

woven

f.

fiery

7.

exactly

g.

hidden meanings

8.

evidence

h.

dispute

9.

go through

i.

swiftly

10.

connotations

j.

proof

3. PHRASE MATCH:  (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

1.

A heated debate is currently

a.

viral

2.

a video going

b.

experiences

3.

people in ancient

c.

that is woven together

4.

We are taking the

d.

going on

5.

thoroughly investigate

e.

of the hairstyle

6.

Dreadlocks are rope-like bunches of hair

f.

this incident

7.

They have been in existence

g.

connotations

8.

Anthropologists have found evidence

h.

Egypt

9.

black people often have negative

i.

matter seriously

10.

racial

j.

for thousands of years

GAP FILL

A heated debate is (1) ____________ going on in the USA about whether it is OK for white people to have dreadlocks. The controversy follows a video going (2) ____________of a black female student confronting a white male student over the (3) ____________that he had dreadlocks. The video shows the black female student questioning the white guy about his (4) ____________. She tells him that he cannot sport such a hairstyle because it is part of her (5) ____________. He replied that people in ancient Egypt had the same hairstyle and that it did not (6) ____________to just one culture. San Francisco State University said: "We are taking the matter seriously and will (7) ____________and thoroughly investigate this incident (8) ____________applicable university channels."

 

 

locks
currently
belong
fact
through
viral
promptly
culture

Dreadlocks are rope-like (9) ____________of hair that is woven together. They have been in (10) ____________for thousands of years. Historians are not sure exactly where they first (11) ____________. Anthropologists have found evidence of the hairstyle in (12) ____________Egypt, Europe, the Pacific islands, Australia and Papua New Guinea, as well as among many African peoples. Writer Jamia Wilson suggested there was an (13) ____________with white people wearing dreadlocks. She said black people often have (14) ____________experiences in society because of them and questioned whether white people with dreadlocks go (15) ____________the same thing. She said: "Hairstyles are not innocuous. There are gendered and (16) ____________connotations and stereotypes attached to them."

 

ancient
bunches
negative
racial
originated
through
existence
issue

 

LISTENING - Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)

The controversy follows a video ______

 

a.  going viral
b.  going virus
c.  going feral
d.  going viable

2)

The video shows the black female student questioning the white guy ______

 

a.  about his blocks
b.  about his clocks
c.  about his rocks
d.  about his locks

3)

people in ancient Egypt had the same hairstyle and that it did not belong to ______

 

a.  just once culture
b.  just only culture
c.  just one culture
d.  just ones culture

4)

San Francisco State University said: "We are taking the ______"

 

a.  matters serious
b.  matters seriously
c.  matter seriously
d.  matter serious

5)

thoroughly investigate this incident through applicable ______

 

a.  university channel
b.  university's channels
c.  university's channel
d.  university channels

6)

They have been in existence for thousands of years. Historians are not sure exactly where _____

 

a.  they first originated
b.  they firstly originated
c.  they firsts originated
d.  they first originate

7)

Anthropologists have found evidence of the hairstyle ______

 

a.  in ancient Egyptian
b.  in ancient Egypt
c.  in ancient Egypt's
d.  on ancient Egypt

8)

Writer Jamia Wilson suggested there was an issue with white people ______

 

a.  wear in dreadlocks
b.  wearing dreadlocks
c.  wearing dreadlock
d.  wear in dreadlock

9)

She said black people often have negative experiences in society ______

 

a.  because of these
b.  be caused of them
c.  because of them
d.  be cause of these

10)

There are gendered and racial connotations and stereotypes ______

 

a.  attached at them
b.  attached to them
c.  attached of them
d.  attached two them

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

A heated debate is (1) ___________________ in the USA about whether it is OK for white people to have dreadlocks. The controversy follows a video (2) ___________________ black female student confronting a white male student over the fact that he had dreadlocks. The video shows the black female student questioning the white guy (3) ___________________. She tells him that he cannot sport such a hairstyle because it is part of her culture. He replied that (4) ___________________ Egypt had the same hairstyle and that it did not belong to just one culture. San Francisco State University said: "We are taking (5) ___________________ and will promptly and thoroughly investigate (6) ___________________ applicable university channels."

Dreadlocks are rope-like bunches of hair that (7) ___________________. They have been in existence for thousands of years. Historians are not sure (8) ___________________ first originated. Anthropologists have found evidence of the hairstyle in ancient Egypt, Europe, the Pacific islands, Australia and Papua New Guinea, (9) ___________________ many African peoples. Writer Jamia Wilson suggested (10) ___________________ with white people wearing dreadlocks. She said black people often have negative (11) ___________________ because of them and questioned whether white people with dreadlocks go through the same thing. She said: "Hairstyles are not innocuous. There are (12) ___________________ connotations and stereotypes attached to them."

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.

What kind of debate did the article say there was?

2.

What happened to the YouTube video?

3.

Where did the male student say people wore dreadlocks?

4.

In which U.S. city do the students attend university?

5.

What did the university say it would do promptly?

6.

For how long have dreadlocks been in existence?

7.

Where did historians say dreadlocks first originated?

8.

What is the job of Jamia Wilson?

9.

What kind of experiences did Ms Wilson say black people often had?

10.

What did Ms Wilson say is attached to hairstyles besides stereotypes?

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1.

What kind of debate did the article say there was?

6.

For how long have dreadlocks been in existence?

 

a) an intellectual one
b) a happy one
c) an interesting one
d) a heated one

 

a) decades
b) thousands of years
c) millions of years
d) hundreds of years

2.

What happened to the YouTube video?

7.

Where did historians say dreadlocks first originated?

 

a) it was banned
b) it went viral
c) it disappeared
d) it broke a record

 

a) in Ethiopia
b) in Peru
c) in Vanuatu
d) they are not sure

3.

Where did the male student say people wore dreadlocks?

8.

What is the job of Jamia Wilson?

 

a) Vanuatu
b) Brazil
c) ancient Egypt
d) Mesopotamia

 

a) a writer
b) a university lecturer
c) a hair stylist
d) a YouTube vlogger

4.

In which U.S. city do the students attend university?

9.

What kind of experiences did Ms Wilson say black people often had?

 

a) San Francisco
b) New York
c) Miami
d) Seattle

 

a) ordinary ones
b) crazy ones
c) negative ones
d) uplifting ones

5.

What did the university say it would do promptly?

10.

What did Ms Wilson say is attached to hairstyles besides stereotypes?

 

a) open a hair salon
b) discipline the students
c) investigate
d) produce guidelines

 

a) expensive styling
b) racial connotations
c) looks
d) gel

ROLE PLAY

Role  A – Dreadlocks

You think dreadlocks are the best hairstyle. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their styles aren't so good. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): a ponytail, being bald or straight hair.

Role  B – Ponytail

You think a ponytail is the best hairstyle. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their styles aren't so good. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): dreadlocks, being bald or straight hair.

Role  C – Bald / shaven

You think being bald is the best hairstyle. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their styles aren't so good. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): a ponytail, dreadlocks or straight hair.

Role  D – Straight

You think straight hair is the best hairstyle. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their styles aren't so good. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why):  a ponytail, being bald or dreadlocks.

AFTER READING / LISTENING

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words 'hair' and 'style'.

hair

 

style

 

 

  • Share your findings with your partners.
  • Make questions using the words you found.
  • Ask your partner / group your questions.

2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

  • Share your questions with other classmates / groups.
  • Ask your partner / group your questions.

3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

  • heated
  • viral
  • fact
  • sport
  • belong
  • channels
  • rope
  • first
  • well
  • issue
  • thing
  • attached

DREADLOCKS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about dreadlocks in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

 

STUDENT 1

_____________

STUDENT 2

_____________

STUDENT 3

_____________

Q.1.

 

 

 

 

Q.2.

 

 

 

 

Q.3.

 

 

 

 

Q.4.

 

 

 

 

Q.5.

 

 

 

 

  • Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.
  • Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

DREADLOCKS DISCUSSION

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

1)

What did you think when you read the headline?

2)

What springs to mind when you hear the word 'hair'?

3)

What do you think about what you read?

4)

Do different hairstyles belong to different cultures?

5)

Should white people be able to have dreadlocks?

6)

What is your favourite hairstyle?

7)

Do dreadlocks and other hairstyles belong to all cultures?

8)

What do you think of dreadlocks?

9)

What advice do you have for the two students?

10)

What should the university do about this?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

11)

Did you like reading this article? Why/not?

12)

Would / Do you look good in dreadlocks?

13)

Do white people only wear dreadlocks to look cool?

14)

What negative experiences might black people with dreadlocks have?

15)

Does society look at people with dreadlocks differently, depending on their skin colour?

16)

What "racial connotations" are there with hairstyles?

17)

What are the issues of white people having dreadlocks?

18)

Do you agree that "hairstyles are not innocuous"?

19)

What stereotypes are there of people with dreadlocks?

20)

What questions would you like to ask the two students?

DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

1.

________________________________________________________

2.

________________________________________________________

3.

________________________________________________________

4.

________________________________________________________

5.

________________________________________________________

6.

________________________________________________________

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

1.

________________________________________________________

2.

________________________________________________________

3.

________________________________________________________

4.

________________________________________________________

5.

________________________________________________________

6.

________________________________________________________

LANGUAGE - CLOZE

A (1) ____ debate is currently going on in the USA about whether it is OK for white people to have dreadlocks. The controversy (2) ____ a video going viral of a black female student confronting a white male student (3) ____ the fact that he had dreadlocks. The video shows the black female student questioning the white guy about his locks. She tells him that he cannot (4) ____ such a hairstyle because it is part of her culture. He replied that people in ancient Egypt had the same hairstyle and that it did not (5) ____ to just one culture. San Francisco State University said: "We are taking the matter seriously and will promptly and thoroughly investigate this incident through (6) ____ university channels."

Dreadlocks are rope-like bunches of hair that is (7) ____ together. They have been in existence for thousands of years. Historians are not sure (8) ____ where they first originated. Anthropologists have found evidence of the hairstyle in ancient Egypt, Europe, the Pacific islands, Australia and Papua New Guinea, as (9) ____ as among many African peoples. Writer Jamia Wilson suggested there was an issue (10) ____ white people wearing dreadlocks. She said black people often have negative experiences in society because of (11) ____ and questioned whether white people with dreadlocks go through the same thing. She said: "Hairstyles are not innocuous. There are gendered and racial connotations and stereotypes attached (12) ____ them."

Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.

1.

(a)

hated

(b)

heating

(c)

heightened

(d)

heated

2.

(a)

follow

(b)

followers

(c)

following

(d)

follows

3.

(a)

around

(b)

over

(c)

under

(d)

along

4.

(a)

hobby

(b)

interest

(c)

sport

(d)

game

5.

(a)

apt

(b)

surround

(c)

belong

(d)

stick

6.

(a)

applicable

(b)

applicants

(c)

application

(d)

apply

7.

(a)

weave

(b)

woven

(c)

weaver

(d)

weaves

8.

(a)

exactly

(b)

exacts

(c)

exacted

(d)

exact

9.

(a)

good

(b)

well

(c)

best

(d)

better

10.

(a)

along

(b)

by

(c)

with

(d)

as

11.

(a)

these

(b)

that

(c)

them

(d)

they

12.

(a)

so

(b)

as

(c)

up

(d)

to

SPELLING

Paragraph 1

1.

A heated tedeba is currently going on

2.

The vsrerctoyno follows a video going viral

3.

We are taking the matter rsueoliys

4.

nieacnt Egypt

5.

ylmpport and thoroughly

6.

investigate this nendtici

Paragraph 2

7.

hair that is vnoew together

8.

in itscexnee for thousands of years

9.

where they first idaogernit

10.

Anthropologists have found idenvece

11.

gnvtieae experiences

12.

tpeestsryeo attached to them

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

(    )

of years. Historians are not sure exactly where they first originated. Anthropologists have found

(    )

male student over the fact that he had dreadlocks. The video shows the black female student

(    )

society because of them and questioned whether white people with dreadlocks go through the same thing. She said:

(    )

promptly and thoroughly investigate this incident through applicable university channels."

(    )

it is part of her culture. He replied that people in ancient Egypt had the same hairstyle and that it did not

(    )

questioning the white guy about his locks. She tells him that he cannot sport such a hairstyle because

(    )

well as among many African peoples. Writer Jamia Wilson suggested there was an

(    )

"Hairstyles are not innocuous. There are gendered and racial connotations and stereotypes attached to them."

(    )

have dreadlocks. The controversy follows a video going viral of a black female student confronting a white

(    )

belong to just one culture. San Francisco State University said: "We are taking the matter seriously and will

(    )

evidence of the hairstyle in ancient Egypt, Europe, the Pacific islands, Australia and Papua New Guinea, as

(  1  )

A heated debate is currently going on in the USA about whether it is OK for white people to

(    )

Dreadlocks are rope-like bunches of hair that is woven together. They have been in existence for thousands

(    )

issue with white people wearing dreadlocks. She said black people often have negative experiences in

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1.

debate   is   currently   going   on   in   the   USA   A   heated   .  

2.

OK   for      .   white   have   people   dreadlocks   to   Whether   it   is

3.

locks   Questioning      .   the   white   guy   about   his

4.

him   cannot   a   tells   he   such   She   that   sport   hairstyle   .  

5.

ancient  in  people  that  replied  He   hairstyle  same   the  had  Egypt .

6.

been   for   years   have   existence   of   They   in   thousands   .  

7.

where   originated   are   exactly   first   Historians   sure   they   not   .  

8.

issue   people   an   white   dreadlocks   was   with   wearing   There   .  

9.

have   said   negative   black   experiences   people   often   She   .  

10.

same   White   dreadlocks   the   with   through   thing   people   go   .  

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

A heated / heating debate is currently going on in the USA about weather / whether it is OK for white people to have dreadlocks. The controversial / controversy follows a video going viral / virus of a black female student confronting a white male student over the fact / factual that he had dreadlocks. The video shows the black female student questioned / questioning the white guy about his locks. She tells him that he cannot spot / sport such a hairstyle because it is part of her culture. He replied that people in ancient Egypt had the same hairstyle and that it did not belong to just one head / culture. San Francisco State University said: "We are taking the matter seriously and will prompt / promptly and thoroughly investigate this incident through applicable university channels / stations."

Dreadlocks are rope-like branches / bunches of hair that is woven / weaving together. They have been in existence / existing for thousands of years. Historians are not sure exact / exactly where they first originated / original. Anthropologists have found evidence of the hairstyle in ancient Egypt, Europe, the Pacific islands, Australia and Papua New Guinea, as good/ well as among many African peoples. Writer Jamia Wilson suggestion / suggested there was an issue with white people wearing dreadlocks. She said black people often have negative / negatively experiences in society because of them and questioned whether white people with dreadlocks go through the same thing. She said: "Hairstyles are not innocuous / innoculations. There are gendered and racial connotations and stereotypes attractive / attached to them."

Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

INSERT THE VOWELS (a, e, i, o, u)

_ h__t_d d_b_t_ _s c_rr_ntly g__ng _n _n th_ _S_ _b__t wh_th_r _t _s _K f_r wh_t_ p__pl_ t_ h_v_ dr__dl_cks. Th_ c_ntr_v_rsy f_ll_ws _ v_d__ g__ng v_r_l _f _ bl_ck f_m_l_ st_d_nt c_nfr_nt_ng _ wh_t_ m_l_ st_d_nt _v_r th_ f_ct th_t h_ h_d dr__dl_cks. Th_ v_d__ sh_ws th_ bl_ck f_m_l_ st_d_nt q__st__n_ng th_ wh_t_ g_y _b__t h_s l_cks. Sh_ t_lls h_m th_t h_ c_nn_t sp_rt s_ch _ h__rstyl_ b_c__s_ _t _s p_rt _f h_r c_lt_r_. H_ r_pl__d th_t p__pl_ _n _nc__nt _gypt h_d th_ s_m_ h__rstyl_ _nd th_t _t d_d n_t b_l_ng t_ j_st _n_ c_lt_r_. S_n Fr_nc_sc_ St_t_ _n_v_rs_ty s__d: "W_ _r_ t_k_ng th_ m_tt_r s_r___sly _nd w_ll pr_mptly _nd th_r__ghly _nv_st_g_t_ th_s _nc_d_nt thr__gh _ppl_c_bl_ _n_v_rs_ty ch_nn_ls."

Dr__dl_cks _r_ r_p_-l_k_ b_nch_s _f h__r th_t _s w_v_n t_g_th_r. Th_y h_v_ b__n _n _x_st_nc_ f_r th__s_nds _f y__rs. H_st_r__ns _r_ n_t s_r_ _x_ctly wh_r_ th_y f_rst _r_g_n_t_d. _nthr_p_l_g_sts h_v_ f__nd _v_d_nc_ _f th_ h__rstyl_ _n _nc__nt _gypt, __r_p_, th_ P_c_f_c _sl_nds, __str_l__ _nd P_p__ N_w G__n__, _s w_ll _s _m_ng m_ny _fr_c_n p__pl_s. Wr_t_r J_m__ W_ls_n s_gg_st_d th_r_ w_s _n _ss__ w_th wh_t_ p__pl_ w__r_ng dr__dl_cks. Sh_ s__d bl_ck p__pl_ _ft_n h_v_ n_g_t_v_ _xp_r__nc_s _n s_c__ty b_c__s_ _f th_m _nd q__st__n_d wh_th_r wh_t_ p__pl_ w_th dr__dl_cks g_ thr__gh th_ s_m_ th_ng. Sh_ s__d: "H__rstyl_s _r_ n_t _nn_c___s. Th_r_ _r_ g_nd_r_d _nd r_c__l c_nn_t_t__ns _nd st_r__typ_s _tt_ch_d t_ th_m."

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

a heated debate is currently going on in the usa about whether it is ok for white people to have dreadlocks the controversy follows a video going viral of a black female student confronting a white male student over the fact that he had dreadlocks the video shows the black female student questioning the white guy about his locks she tells him that he cannot sport such a hairstyle because it is part of her culture he replied that people in ancient egypt had the same hairstyle and that it did not belong to just one culture san francisco state university said "we are taking the matter seriously and will promptly and thoroughly investigate this incident through applicable university channels"

dreadlocks are rope-like bunches of hair that is woven together they have been in existence for thousands of years historians are not sure exactly where they first originated anthropologists have found evidence of the hairstyle in ancient egypt europe the pacific islands australia and papua new guinea as well as among many african peoples writer jamia wilson suggested there was an issue with white people wearing dreadlocks she said black people often have negative experiences in society because of them and questioned whether white people with dreadlocks go through the same thing she said "hairstyles are not innocuous there are gendered and racial connotations and stereotypes attached to them"

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

AheateddebateiscurrentlygoingonintheUSAaboutwhetheritisOKfor
whitepeopletohavedreadlocks.Thecontroversyfollowsavideogoingvi
ralofablackfemalestudentconfrontingawhitemalestudentoverthefac
tthathehaddreadlocks.Thevideoshowstheblackfemalestudentquesti
oningthewhiteguyabouthislocks.Shetellshimthathecannotsportsuc
hahairstylebecauseitispartofherculture.Herepliedthatpeopleinancie
ntEgypthadthesamehairstyleandthatitdidnotbelongtojustonecultur
e.SanFranciscoStateUniversitysaid:"Wearetakingthematterseriousl
yandwillpromptlyandthoroughlyinvestigatethisincidentthroughappl
icableuniversitychannels."Dreadlocksarerope-likebunchesofh
airthatiswoventogether.Theyhavebeeninexistenceforthousandsofy
ears.Historiansarenotsureexactlywheretheyfirstoriginated.Anthrop
ologistshavefoundevidenceofthehairstyleinancientEgypt,Europe,th
ePacificislands,AustraliaandPapuaNewGuinea,aswellasamongmany
Africanpeoples.WriterJamiaWilsonsuggestedtherewasanissuewith
whitepeoplewearingdreadlocks.Shesaidblackpeopleoftenhavenega
tiveexperiencesinsocietybecauseofthemandquestionedwhitepeople
withdreadlocksgothroughthesamething.Shesaid:"Hairstylesarenoti
nnocuous.Therearegenderedandracialconnotationsandstereotypes
attachedtothem."

FREE WRITING

Write about dreadlocks for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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ACADEMIC WRITING

Hairstyles belong to one culture and should not be copied by other cultures. Discuss.

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HOMEWORK

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about dreadlocks. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. DREADLOCKS: Make a poster about dreadlocks. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. HAIR AND CULTURE: Write a magazine article about hair and culture. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against anyone being able to have dreadlocks.

Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).

5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on hair. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three opinions on different hairstyles. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

a

T

b

F

c

T

d

F

e

F

f

T

g

T

h

F

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4)

1.

heated

a.

fiery

2.

controversy

b.

dispute

3.

sport

c.

wear

4.

promptly

d.

swiftly

5.

applicable

e.

relevant

6.

woven

f.

entwined

7.

exactly

g.

precisely

8.

evidence

h.

proof

9.

go through

i.

experience

10.

connotations

j.

hidden meanings

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1.

A heated debate

2.

It went viral

3.

In ancient Europe

4.

San Francisco

5.

Investigate

6.

Thousands of years

7.

They are not sure

8.

A writer

9.

Negative experiences

10.

Racial connotations

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1.

d

2.

b

3.

c

4.

a

5.

c

6.

b

7.

d

8.

a

9.

c

10.

b

ALL OTHER EXERCISES

Please check for yourself by looking at the Article on page 2.
(It's good for your English ;-)

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